Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-13
NREAs BELrErs.
queer superstitions OF the People
seariug The Cholera God.

queer Supefshthohs Oh tne E""F
Soaring The Cholera God.
When cholera was raging in Corea
last summer IL was supposed to have
been arrested by the successful efforts
Of the people in firing guns at the
cholera god (or devil, writes Seoul
correspondent of the San Francisco
Chronicle. The disease did stop its
ravages very suddenly, and II the
masses had faith enough in their
method OF treating it to carry IL
out faithfully it. is but natural to sup
pose that they would ascribe the sue
cessful results to their vigorous treat
ment. Recently three soldiers doing
duty at the palace lost their hair IN
mysterious way, and as the same ex-
perieuce has since fallen to others IL
has caused great CONSERVATION. Inc
hair is worn in little knot on top oil
the head. The knot is a sign OF man
hood. as al boys and unmarried men
wear their hair in braid down their
backs. II is first put up when
the young man is betrothed, and Is
ever afterward tended with great
care. To lose this coil is sad
affection, but the unaccOuntable man
ner in which men are now losing their
hair becomes a cause OF national anxiety
and shame as well as distress to the IN
dividual. As the occurrence is still
taking place. and no visible cause can
lie discovered, it has been ascrlbed to
nm evil spirit. Consequently the artll,
lerv is again called into requisitlon and
the music of the Calling gun Is enough
to lead one to suppose the city 10 he
in a state of siege. This may seem to
be trifling matter, yet great crises
have arisen from no greater causes.
Should, for instance, this occurrence
be ascribed to the disgust of the gods
with his people (Coreans) for assocla-
ting with short-haired foreigners, the
intelligent. broad-minded king and pro-
grcssive party would have trouble In
restraining the masses from dong Vlo-
lence TO the people whom they believed
to be bringing disgrace with their pres
ence in the country.
For three years past the haryests
have been very poor extravaganza III
purchasing foreign articles and estab-
fishing modern institutions has plunged
the Government into a state OF indebt-
ednes3 that can only be relieved by
opening up the marvellous mineral
wealth Of the country. This could not
lie done, however, at once, and Ill the
mean time the prospects for good
harvest dnrinp the past season.
were very poor for awhile, and
at the same time thousands we're
dying from cholera. The people
began TO talk among themselves, and 1t
was readily remembered that the poor
harvests, Indebtedness, riots, ETC., had
ailhappened since the advent of foreign
ers and the conclusion of treaties. 1t
was not strange, then, that the ill luck
was all ascribed TO the strange western
ers. and it might have gone i'll with us
had not the cholera god been scared
away and the rains checked by the ef-
forts of the people. As 1t Is, such q
rich harvest has not been had for years, !
and as matters, political and social, are
all looking mp the reputation of foreign
crs has been saved.
The queen dowager is not particu-
larlv fond of outsiders, and seems
afraid Of their evil influence. The royal
funeral trappings are kept in go-downs
built on lot which occupies very fine
sitcat the rear of the various legations.
The place has been wanted ~ several
foreigners. and in one case the Govern
ment desired to place the property mt
the disposal of the applicant; but the
queen dowager (who is eighty
years Of ageD firmly refused to have
the funeral goods moved lest the
pater might make case for their being
used. and as she was the nearest 10 the
grave. she feared such a de3ecrtion
might bode i'll to her. In few days
occurs tine birthday Of this notable
body As usual, preparations were be
ing made for n grand function, with
audiences and banquets for the foreign
ers. but it is stated these preparations
have all ceased owing to the Oc-
currence of a thunderstorm. As
trologers say that when a thun-
der-storm occurs in the tenth moon it
indicates a change in dynasty or a
death in the royal family. The Queen
is quite superstitious, and religiously
observes some superstitious ideas. The
King, on the contrary, is eminently
practical, and seems fond of learning
the true inwardness of things. As a
people the Coreans are not morbidly
supcrstiiious. They seem more free
from this failing than the Chinese, and
custom has a far greater hold upon
them than superstition or religion.